1

Testimony in Support for the FEIS Kawainui-Hāmākua Marsh Master Plan

Aloha Board of Land and Natural Resources Board Members,

I am testifying in support of the FEIS Kawainui-Hāmākua Marsh Master Plan with some

reservation because I object to removal of some structural features of the plan. Thank you for

this opportunity to offer comments.

Restoration of the wetland ponds of Kawainui is long overdue and needs to be implemented as

soon as possible to open up habitats for endangered birds, fish, and other estuary organisms.

The marsh is in a deteriorated state and restoration is long overdue. Healing of the Kailua

ahupuaʻa watershed mauka to makai is an important environmental undertaking and the

Kawainui and Hāmākua wetlands are signifcant consequential parts of this watershed in need of

attention. These areas are presently compromised, especially Kawainui, and the FEIS addresses

these concerns. Measures in the master plan that address polluted storm water runoff, such as

erosion control, upland reforestation, and buffer zones surrounding the wetlands are needed to

improve the health of the wetland and hopefully, carried out soon.

Why Support Native Hawaiians and Structures for Culture and Education at Kawainui

Native Hawaiians have been stewarding, restoring, and working for free, on State lands with

absolutely no assistance from the State Department of Land and Natural Resources for decades.

Their contributions to the health of this important natural resource in our community and the

extensive amount of cultural and environmental education they provided is invaluable. Yet,

when they request safe parking areas, restroom amenities, water sources, and support

structures, the response of Kailua political factions has been—absolutely not. Major sections of

trail systems and boardwalks to connect kuahale and cultural sites significant to native

Hawaiians, as well as pavilions for school groups, viewing platforms to view and study native

birds, running water and bathrooms at Ulupō, an entire voyaging education center and more

2

have been removed with each EIS, in order to appease those opposed to these parts of the

plan. The Kailua Neighborhood Board has demanded removal of all trails, boardwalks,

bathrooms, cultural centers, education centers, pavilions, essentially every structure in the

plan. Educational and cultural centers should be highly valued and protected by government

and its people. Dismissing the value of education and culture by demanding the removal of

LEED-certified,non-polluting structures that support these elements is disturbing and I

appreciate the fact that DOFAW has kept many of these features in the plan. Reducing an

education center to a pavilion with bathrooms needs to be remedied though. A pavilion does

not qualify as an education center and this reduction severely hinders and limits environmental

education. All support structures for education that have been removed from the plan should

be reinstated to meet the tremendous demand for educational programs and resources at

Kawainui.

Support for native Hawaiian culture and cultural and education centers at Kawainui has been a

major focus of the master plan ever since it was first conceived over forty years ago. Any

discussion regarding Kawainui should address injustice, be viewed within an historical and

cultural context, and start with the needs and wants of the host culture, instead of those who

barely set foot in the marsh. Native Hawaiians have had a presence at Kawainui for over one

thousand years, and this permanence there must continue and be supported. Their presence

there doesnʻt constitute “a land grab,” or a plan to profit from tourists, as some opposed to

support for native Hawaiians at Kawainui have falsely stated. Kanaka Maoli do not view the

land as a commodity; it is the foundation of their cultural and spiritual identity. They trace their

lineage to the lands in the region originally settled by their ancestors. The ‘āina is part of their

ohana and they care for it as they do other living members of their family. State government

should provide immeasurable support to the organizations that are actually carrying out

ecosystem restoration, preservation, stewardship, education, and sustainabilty work on state

lands. The input from Kanaka Maoli, who have been intensely involved for decades at Kawainui

restoring and stewarding, should not be ignored and their testimony should be given

tremendous weight. They are the protectors and guardians of Kawainui—they mālāma their

3

sacred lands there, possess a spiritual connection to this area, take on their kuleana to honor

their ancestors, and practice and teach to perpetuate a threatened native Hawaiian culture in

Kailua at the Kawainui-Hāmākua Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance. The fact that

Kawainui is the site of the oldest Polynesian settlement in the Hawaiian Islands and has always

had a native Hawaiian presence there has much to do with why it was designated a Ramsar

Wetlands of International Importance. To throw out features that support the native Hawaiian

cultural presence at Kawainui and designate it as purely a wetland endangered bird sanctuary is

remarkable in its denial and denigration.

The Ramsar Convention Resolutions Support and Encourage Wetland Education Centers and

Cultural Centers at Ramsar Wetlands

The Ramsar Convention international treaty promotes conservation activities that also

incorporate human use because people, according to Ramsar, particularly indigenous people,

are the heart of wetland conservation. According to the Ramsar resolutions, in order to engage

local and indigenous people, efforts should be made “to support the application of traditional

knowledge to wetland management including, the establishment of centers to conserve

indigenous and traditional knowledge systems. Wetland Centers can help support formal,

informal, and non-formal educational programs…” Resolution VII.8. Wetland Centers across the

world connect people with nature and raise their awareness of wetland values and sustainable

lifestyles and can promote the Ramsar principles of wetland conservation and wise use.

“Wetland environmental education centers are ideal venues for promoting the Ramsar

message and efforts should be intensified in order to have suitable information and materials

and programs available within them.” Target groups include “children who are the next

generation of environmental caretakers, and Ramsar must ensure that they are aware of the

importance of wetlands and how to use them wisely. Children can also become teachers of

their parents through their own education.” Appendix 4, Handbook 6: Wetland CEPA

4

The Ramsar Resolutions therefore, support the planned native Hawaiian cultural centers at

Kawainui and the Environmental Education Center. Education centers, cultural centers, and

visitor centers are common features of parks all over the world. These are not just a bunch of

buildings; these are doors to an essential on-going conversation about culture, history, ecology,

wildlife, science, and preservation.

The planned Hawaiian Cultural Center would become a Hawaiian Malae, similar to the sacred

New Zealand Maori Marae where people can share and learn about the native culture. Cultural

practices in halau hula, wood and stone craft, mahiʻai (plant and fish farming), lua (Hawaiian

martial arts), Hawaiian spirituality, and cultural and scientific research would be conducted and

perpetuated. Ceremonies, chanting, hula would take place there, at Kawainui, and native foods

would be grown and prepared. According to Kihei and Mapuana de Silva, the marae is defined

by place and presence. A marae is a place designated to bind its people to who they are. It is a

place of refuge, continuity, and regeneration for these people. Their marae is central to their

cultural identity, especially by those who would discredit and marginalize them. It cannot be a

marae if it is defined for them by others. Nor can it be a marae if its use is regulated for them

by others. Marae as we understand it, refers to a sacred enclosure that consists of an open,

ceremonial space (marae ākea) and a cluster of hale that serve the cultural needs of the kānaka

honua of that place. The largest hale at a marae is meant to gather its people in the embrace of

their ancestors; it is in fact, a physical manifestation of those ancestors. The smaller auxiliary

spaces (sometimes attached to the hale nui, sometimes free-standing) include cooking,

instructional, caretaker, and restroom facilities. Each center at Kawainui with their own cluster

of open and enclosed, hard and soft spaces, will each be facing and serving the largest and most

inspiring of marae ākea: Kawainui itself.

Alternative master plans offered by the Kailua Neighborhood Board and the Lani-Kailua

Outdoor Circle demonstrate total lack of understanding of the connection of Kanaka Maoli to

Kawainui and the purpose of cultural centers there. To suggest that these centers be relocated

outside of Kawainui demonstrates lack of understanding and disregard about the purpose of

5

marae. False claims that the structures will pollute the wetlands and turn it into “a eutrophic

swamp” have been spread and put on the social media site, My Kailua, which is followed by

51,000 Kailua residents. The goal for the buildings planned on Kapaʻa Quarry Road and at

Waiʻauia is Platinum level, or zero net point pollution, LEED-certified structures. People within

the non-profits slated to design the planned buildings for the Hawaiian centers and oversee

their construction, are among the leading experts in the state when it comes to construction of

LEED-certified structures and green building practices. Lehuakona Isaacs, as a project manager

at Hawaiian Dredging, was the lead on the award-winning LEED Platinum (zero-net pollution)

Punahou School Omidyar K-1 building and grounds. It will be this expertise that can be applied

to the planned LEED-certified, zero net pollution, structures at Kawainui, such as the Kapaʻa

Hawaiian Cultural Center. Lauren Roth, Founding Principal of Roth Ecological Design, Inc., who

is an expert on water pollution, green, sustainable building practices, ecological engineering,

and eco-technology sits on the Board of ʻAhahui. The footprint for these buildings will be only

about 1 acre of an almost 1000 acre project and will not adversely effect the environment. The

areas the planned structures will be located in are not pristine, environmentally fragile,

undisturbed lands. They include former cattle grazing lands, and the site for the native

Hawaiian cultural center was a city waste dump.

Indigenous People Are at the Forefront of Efforts to Decrease Global Warming, Achieve

Sustainability, and Mitigate Pollution

Our planet is presently facing climate crisis due to global warming. Wetlands play a critical role

in helping ward off global warming threats and Kawainui is no exception. The carbon

sequestration (capture) provided by wetlands and forests is crucial to ensuring the survival of

almost all species on our planet right now. It is becoming more and more apparent that Native

Hawaiians in the Kailua ahupuaʻa are leaders in the fight against climate change within our

community and the leaders providing environmental education to our keiki. Restoring native

plants is a crucial step in promoting climate change resilience, according to Scott Fisher, chief

conservation officer for the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust. Internationally, reforestation has

6

been done to slow down the rate of global warming and sea level rise. No other organizations

in the community come close to the work ʻAhahui Mālama I Ka Lōkahi has been carrying out for

decades with their multi-dimensional approach to restoring a complex native forest ecosystem,

as well as the restoration work of Hika’alani and Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club at Ulupō. They have

been restoring damaged lands in and around Kawainui since the 1990ʻs. Where once guinea

grass, koa haole and java plum dominated the landscape, the kinolau of the akua are now

flourishing at Ulupō and Nā Pōhaku O Hauawahine. Led by Lehuakona Isaacs, ʻAhahui Mālama I

Ka Lōkahi, is restoring the native lowland forest at Nā Pōhaku O Hauwahine, stewarding the

area, and bringing school groups there to learn about conservation methods, environmental

science, native plants, moʻoelo of the area, and traditional native approaches to caring for the

ʻāina. Kaleo Wong of Hikiʻalani and Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club, is leading the restoration of

spring waters, loʻi kalo and native plants at at Ulupō Heiau and also educating community

members and school children about the moʻoeleo of this area, native cultural practices and

conservation.

The native lowland reforestation and loʻi kalo restoration projects native Hawaiian

organizations are carrying out at Kawainui, provide buffer zones on the edge of the wetlands

that help prevent erosion and its negative effects on wetlands. They are preventing polluted

run-off from entering the marsh by providing biomediation zones for filtering pollutants and silt

entering the wetlands. These areas also provide native bird habitats, increase carbon

sequestration, increase the biodiversity of the area, and increase the health of the ecosystem

and watershed. Tool sheds, plant nurseries, safe parking areas, water sources, and kuahale in

the master plan need to remain to support this work by native Hawaiians.

Chuck (Doc)Burrows, Chairman of Hui Kawainui Kailua Ka Wai Ola, is laser focused on healing

the entire Kailua watershed by employing native Hawaiian practices combined with modern

eco-engineering techniques to do so. In conjunction with Hui Maunawili Kawainui Coalition,

ʻAhahui, Hikaʻalani, and Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club there is a common understanding that

7

healing the ʻaina using methods of the past result in ecosystem disaster risk reduction. Guided

by aloha ʻaina, mālama ʻaina and the principle of mookuahau (relying on the wisdom of

kupuna), the work of these organizations serves to protect endangered species, valuable land

and waters, and provide a model for sustainability. They have had to adjust to the Western

concept of private and government landownership and landlords and collaberate with them to

ensure that their natural and cultural resources are protected, and conserved as a sustainable

environmental/cultural ecosystem.

Hawaiians developed specialized, intensive agricultural techniques to produce food in order to

ensure their survival and success. Food sovereignty and agricultural production, although it

does not fall under the auspices of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, is a goal of

native Hawaiians at Kawainui and has always been an important focus for indigenous peoples

and should be supported. Loʻi kalo, mala (gardens of native plants) and fishponds supported

large populations of Native Hawaiians at Kawainui and can do so again. In conjunction with

efforts to acquire the wetlands of Maunawili Valley and expand kalo agriculture there, Kailua

native Hawaiians are leaders in the important goal of attaining food sustainability. Local foods

are environmentally friendly and healthier alternatives to presently importing 90% of our food.

The State of Hawaii is Failing to Fully Support the Relationship of Indigenous Peoples to Their

Native Lands

The State of Hawaii has been failing in comparison to some other island governments in regard

to legislation recognizing the importance and value of the relationship of indigenous peoples to

their native lands. Not implementing this master plan and the components that support native

Hawaiians would be continued failure by government to recognize native Hawaiian leadership

and dominance in caring for, managing, and practicing culture within culturally sensitive areas

like Kawainui Marsh. Some Kailua community organizations that have indicated distrust of the

intentions of Native Hawaiian involvement at Kawainui, choose to nullify support for the

8

perpetuation of culture there, ignore Ramsar recommendations, and are engaging in promoting

archaic approaches and policies that inflict continued injustices and harm to indigenous

peoples. Their approaches to protecting Kawainui are out of sync with core progressive policies

that recognize the relationship of indigenous peoples with their lands.

In Australia, for example, “a strong indigenous movement is reuniting Aboriginal communities

with their land and helping them to ‘care for country’. With the appalling history of injustice,

impoverishment and ill-health among the Aborigines, this homelands movement is bringing

economic, health and environmental benefits.” Parallels to the dismal health statitics for native

Hawaiians and injustices, such as loss of lands and culture are obvious. Healing needs to take

place.

“Indigenous land management has emerged as an important phenomenon in Australia.

Optimism is warranted in response to the positive environmental, social, economic and cultural

outcomes reported from Indigenous Land Management program across Australia. Indigenous

peoples across all states and territories show a common desire to manage their traditional land

and resources in Indigenous ways with a deeply emotional and spiritual connection to country.

Local control and empowerment of Indigenous people is at the heart of many of the success

factors. Effective organizations (many non-Indigenous) and policy responses that support this

Indigenous leadership underpin the other success factors. Relationships of trust, respect and

mutuality allow the productive negotiation of differences and positive outcomes. Indigenous

peoples with customary obligations have now organized themselves to respond to opportunities

to have their land management activities supported through government funding. They now

undertake significant projects across Australia, and are the key providers of land management

services in many remote and regional areas, with some providers operating in urban centers.”

“Multiple benefits have been derived from this investment including:

◆ health and wellbeing benefits— for example

9

– lowered blood pressure levels, lowered diabetes and heart- attack risks saved an estimated $260 000 per annum in one remote community.

◆ cultural and social benefits— for example

– reduced anti-social behavior of young people, and increased access to housing and employment.

◆ economic benefits—for example

– reduced welfare payments and increased tax revenue reduced the costs of the Australian Government’s Working on Country program by up to 23%.

– returns from the arts and crafts industry supported by NRM generating $12-$14 per hour for Indigenous peoples in remote locations.

◆ environmental benefits—for example

– one study reported Indigenous NRM managed lands had lower rates of weed infestation and healthier fire regimes when compared to adjacent protected areas.

– increased action in border protection, quarantine, fire management, wildfire abatement, carbon sequestration, weed and feral animal control, fisheries management and more.”

“Indigenous Protected Areas are an essential component of Australia’a National Reserve

System, which is the network of formally recognized parks, reserves and protected areas across

Australia. As well as protecting biodiversity, Indigenous Protected Areas deliver cost-effective

environmental, cultural, social, health and wellbeing and economic benefits to Indigenous

communities.

In New Zealand, attitudes and recognition of the value of the indigenous land management

took a leap when the government gave a Māori tribe part-guardianship of the Whanganui River

and declared the river a living entity. Maori in New Zealand Māori tribe of Whanganui in the

North Island have fought for the recognition of their river – the third-largest in New Zealand –

as an ancestor for 140 years. Two guardians will be appointed to act on behalf of the

Whanganui river, one from the crown and one from the Whanganui iwi. “The reason we have

10

taken this approach is because we consider the river an ancestor and always have,” said

Gerrard Albert, the lead negotiator for the Whanganui iwi [tribe].

Albert said all Māori tribes regarded themselves as part of the universe, at one with and equal

to the mountains, the rivers and the seas. The new law now honored and reflected their

worldview, he said, and could set a precedent for other Māori tribes in New Zealand to follow

in Whanganui’s footsteps. “We can trace our genealogy to the origins of the universe,” said

Albert. “And therefore, rather than us being masters of the natural world, we are part of it. We

want to live like that as our starting point. And that is not an anti-development, or anti-

economic use of the river but to begin with the view that it is a living being, and then consider

its future from that central belief.”

Native Hawaiians are a Threatened Minority in Kailua

Presently, tribal peoples all over the world are defending their lands from outsiders. They see

themselves as guardians of the natural world for future generations and in their hands lie the

majority of the world’s most important areas for conservation. In Kailua, Native Hawaiians

have shrunk to only 4% of the population. They are the ones who have the most to lose if the

master plan does not pass Board of Land and Natural Resources scrutiny. They have already lost

a voice in the community power structure, and have been marginalized by opposition groups

who have decided they know what is best for Kawainiu and Hāmākua Marsh. Support for

native Hawaiian cultural practices and activities should be viewed as a primary component in

any environmental management plan that involves lands historically sacred to Native

Hawaiians. Hawaiians have had a lot of things taken away from them and suffered much loss.

Detrimental Effects of Marginalization of Native Hawaiians

Kathleen Sassi, a former Hawaii Pacific University nursing school professor is an advocate for

vulnerable populations and her health studies interest is, “the health and wellness of native

11

Hawaiians, and the broader root causes of inequity, as well as culture preservation as a

protective factor in population health. “Cultural preservation and practice can improve health

and wellness,”according to Sassi. Regarding the master plan project, she said, “I believe that

Hawaiians must have a chance to re-establish a living, permanent cultural presence, that is self-

determined as far as what type of learning shelters, classrooms, care-taking capacity, or burial

sites they themselves deem apppropriate at Kawainui. However, she said, not giving Hawaiians

a part in the implementation of this plan they helped develop, would be an even more

dangerous and harmful form of continued structural racism that would have a debilitating

effect on the indigenous population as a group.

Many in the community are unaware of significant programs taking place at Kawainui that

address injustice and healing of the native Hawaiian community. Kailua Native Hawaiian

organizations have been involved in programs for incarcerated women from the Kailua

Women’s Correctional Center that give these women an opportunity to experience a healing

reconnection to their culture at Kawainui. They also offer cultural and environmental

education to troubled, at-risk youth in our community, and recently established a Kailua

Houseless Coalition, in conjunction with the Kailua YMCA and St. Johnʻs Lutheran Church to

help Kailua homeless, several of whom are Native Hawaiian. The program offers a meal once a

month, provided by Kailua Hawaiian organizations and some of the Kailua churches in

conjunction with access to a mobile hygiene and laundry unit, and social services professionals

that offer direction and pathways out of homelessness. Doc Burrows started a community

garden with homeless at Kawainui so that they can begin to grow their own food and provide

for themselves. The master plan would enhance and aid these programs. As in Australia, the

health and well-being aspects of indigenous land management are important considerations,

especially in view of the dismal rates for incarceration, life span, disease, graduation from high

school, poverty, mental health issues and stress for native Hawaiians compared to the general

population.

12

Environmentalists Support the Master Plan

There is a massive amount of non-point source pollution running into Kawainui and Hāmākua

Marshes from roads, cars, homes, parking lots, schools, churches, businesses, and the recently

built non-pervious parking areas and expansion of private and commercial non-LEED-certified

structures adjacent to Kawainui. Groups opposed to the master plan ignore and do nothing

about this problem. Instead, they have chosen to focus on the Hawaiian centers in the master

plan, instead of coming up with solutions to mitigate the 99% of pollution entering Kawainui

and Hāmākau Marshes from these other sources. Hui Kawainui Kailua Ka Wai Ola was recently

created by Doc Burrows, a native Hawaiian, to begin the work of dealing with all this storm

water pollution flowing into Kawainui and Hāmākua. Environmentalists recognize the work

Native Hawaiians are doing to restore Kawainui, mitigate pollution of the wetlands, decrease

global warming by restoring native plants and lowland forests, and establish food sustainability

in our community.

Many environmental organizations, cultural organizations, and environnmental educators

recognize the value of Native Hawaiians working, educating, and practicing culture at Kawainui.

A list of these organizations and individuals will be provided as Appendix A at the end of this

testimony.

Educators Support the Master Plan and More Programs and Facilities at Kawainui for

Education

Educators are knocking loudly on the door to get into Kawainui Marsh, but access is extremely

limited and the necessary resources/structures to support education just aren’t there. This

plan will open a door to knowledge and hands-on learning for thousands of school children. It

is devastating to see that the planned education center and staging area for school children has

been reduced to a pavilion. This along with the removal of entire trails, viewing platforms,

boardwalks and restrooms, negatively impacts and severely limits educational efforts. The State

should not choose to placate and defer to people opposed to the master plan by removing

13

valuable education features. Education offered at Kawainui is invaluable and needs to be

supported.

The people providing education at Kawainui are teaching children in the community about the

native endangered birds and the native plants found there, wetland ecosystems, the geological

history and the cultural history and moʻoelo of the area, and conservation methods, traditional

and modern. I have witnessed Kaleo Wong and his team host 255 kids from Kailua

Intermediate School at Ulupō Heiau in one day. Kailua Intermediate School staff in conjunction

with the Hikaʻalani team have developed an integrated STEAM curriculum that the teachers and

Hikaʻalani use at Ulupō to educate the entire student body of Kailua Intermediate School there

several times a year.

“Kawainui and Hāmākua are brilliant resources for place-based, hands-on learning. So much is

still here—it is a rich, valuable resource. It is important for kids to learn about the area they are

growing up in. The more they understand it, the more they will take care of it. All of the

elementary schools of Kailua feed students into KIS so this is an opportunity to reach many kids

in our community, “said Alina Bwy 8th grade KIS English teacher. KIS is bringing their entire

student body to the marshes now.

“We are aiming for four field trips here a year and we want sites to be safe, we want them to be

accessible. To have this right here in our community is invaluable. It broadens learning, ” said

Bwy. She mentioned how difficult it is for teachers to arrange busses for field trips, especially

for 150 kids, and how wonderful it would be to have more learning, facilities, and upgrades at

Kawainui Marsh, a place they can walk to. The teachers recognize a need for water and

bathrooms at these sites. “We can’t have 150 kids peeing in the stream. We can’t destroy the

land here, especially when you are in a place where food is being grown. It is a health hazard,”

said Bwy.

14

Planning these field trips has been a collaborative effort involving the KIS teachers, Ati Jeffers-

Fabro, Wetlands Coordinator with Department of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), and Kaleo

Wong, the educational/cultural point person and conservator of Ulupō for Hika’alani, Kailua

Hawaiian Civic Club and ʻAhahui Mālama I Ka Lōkahi at Ulupō. The teachers and Wong created

five learning stations that integrated lessons in the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and

Math (STEAM) curriculum according to Standards set by the Department of Education. Maya

Saffery, the assistant curriculum specialist at the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language at

UH Manoa, a kumu hula, and a Board member with Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club assists. Kamuela

Bannister, a program coordinator for KUPU, a member of Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club and

ʻAhahui Mālama I Ka Lōkahi, and Kalama’ehu Takahashi, a Hawaiian Studies Master Degree

candidate and graduate research assistant at the Hawaiinuiakea School of Hawaiian Knowledge

at UH Manoa, led the lo’i/kalo station. They began their lesson with first teaching about the

botany of kalo and the relationship of kalo to kanaka.

Over at Hāmākua Wildlife Sanctuary, students were involved in projects such as moving mulch

to help restore the Native Hawaiian dryland forest. Jeffers-Fabro was teaching them about

native plants and why it is important to restore this forest in their community. “There has been

an overwhelming positive response from teachers, students, administration and district

resource teachers to continue these hands-on learning experiences at Hāmākua,” said Fabro-

Jeffers. According to Kimberley Tangaro, 7th grade KIS Science teacher, teachers are sacrificing

their class prep periods and in class time with students to spend a day at the marsh. She said

teachers are reaching into their own pockets to supplement with extra bottles of water and

snacks so that kids can have this learning experience.

According to Tangaro, when students are performing service work projects education occurs.

“When they pick up trash, observations are made. Students ask, “Why is there so much

plastic?” They notice all the birds are not just ducks and learn there are endangered natives

here, such as the native moorhen, ‘Alae ‘ula. When they learn it is endangered, they realize

15

even more the need to steward this area of their community,” said Tangaro. “Students are able

to connect to a very special place when they come here,” she concluded.

Kailua Intermediate School is just one of several in the community that use and value Kawainui

Marsh as an important educational resource. Le Jardin Academy accesses programs at Ulupō

Heaiu as well as the programs offered by Lehuakona Isaacs, President of ʻAhahui Mālama I Ka

Lōkahi at Nā Pōhaku O Hauwahine. I was at Nā Pōhaku O Hauwahine on a day my grandson

was there with his 3rd Grade class. They were learning about what recreating a complex native

lowland forest entails and how reforestation benefits our watershed, the wetland, our

community, and the planet. They also learned the history and moʻoelo of this area and about

the native plants there, each plantʻs akua, how they were used in ancient times, and the

significance of their akua. My grandson’s class was just one of hundreds that have come to the

marsh for education. Le Jardin Academy is located directly across the street from Kawainui

Marsh but access to learning opportunities within the marsh is limited. The school wants

extensive outdoor learning opportunities there for all grades and stewardship opportunities—

Kindergarten through 12th. They really want to tap into the wealth of scientific knowledge,

cultural history, and learning experiences that could be offered within this incredible area,

which is just steps from their campus.

In Kailua alone, Kaʻōhao Elementary, Trinity Christian, Kailua Elementary, Kalaheo High School,

Kailua High School have been bringing students to Kawainui and Hāmākua. Derek Esibill, marine

biologist with Pacific American Foundation and the Watershed Investigative Research Program,

works with Windward Oahu elementary, intermediate, and high school students at Kawainui

Marsh doing research projects there with them. ʻAhahui Mālama I Ka Lōkahi alone has brought

80,000 people, mostly students, over the past 20 years to Kawainui Marsh for learning service

projects, cultural activities, and restoration projects. The interest in educational opportunities

at the marshes is increasing and facilities are needed. Kailua Hawaiian organizations and

DOFAW have requested restrooms, hose bibs, tool sheds, and educational facilities to steward

16

and educate at the marshes. Students from Punahou School, ʻIolani School, Kamehameha and

other schools outside of Windward Oahu come to Kawainui for educational experiences.

The Department of Education Windward Oahu district complexes recently declared access and

educational experiences at Kawainui Marsh as a priority on their agenda. Herb Lee, Chairman

of Pacific American Foundation can provide further information about this because he is

involved in working toward this goal in partnership with the Department of Education. Herb

has developed extensive curriculum focused on many of Hawaii’s natural and cultural

resources. He fully supports the Kawainui Marsh Master Plan and understands how hands-on,

outdoor education conducted in precious, natural areas establishes valuable, lifelong

connections to those places. Knowledge about and interaction with that place translates to a

desire to value, protect, and steward it. Educators, students and their parents are a large,

important piece of the community desiring the basic principles and components offered by the

Kawainui Marsh Master Plan. The environmental educational center, the Hale Waʻa Voyaging

Education Center, and trails and viewing platforms for the observation of native birds and

plants should not be removed from the plan, or reinstated if they have been removed. The

opinions of community members opposed to educational structures and their desire to

effectively fence the marsh off from everybody, should not take precedence over the education

of children in our community.

Lands Acquired at Kawainui by Land and Water Conservation Funds Require Providing

Recreational Use

Removal of the environmental education/visitor center and trails circling the marsh, hinder

education and diminish recreational opportunities for the community, so these features should

be reinstated. The land in the area of the marsh for the planned environmental education

center and corresponding trailways was acquired through the Federal government’s Land

Water Conservation Fund. The Kalāheo, Kūkanono, Pōhakea, Kahanaiki and Kawainui Park

upland areas of Kawainui were purchased through LWCF. The intent of LWCF is to protect

17

areas around rivers and lakes, and national wildlife refuges, and provide outdoor recreational

opportunities and use in these areas for all Americans. By removing the planned trails,

boardwalks, observation decks, and viewing platforms from the areas of Kalāheo, Kūkanono

and Kahanaiki the DLNR is removing recreational use, and violating the intent of LWFC. The

trailways are very limited now at Kawainui and really do not provide legitimate outdoor

recreation. What is left is more like a short pathway between Nā Pohaku and Pōhakea, which

doesn’t really constitute outdoor recreation. These are State Parks lands and the purpose of

State Parks is to provide varied outdoor recreational opportunities and heritage activities. The

severe reduction of the trails at Kawainui defeats this purpose.

There was overwhelming support for trails and boardwalks at Kawainui when the master plan

was presented to the community for review. The 2014 Kawainui-Hāmākua Master Plan Draft

EIS indicated that when polled 93% of those who attended a public informational meeting on

the master plan voted for paths at Nā Pōhaku, 80% desired paths in the Kapaʻa section of

Kawainui, which is along Kapaʻa Quarry Road, 89% voted for paths in the Kalāheo area of

Kawainui (across from Kalāheo High School, 89% wanted trails on Puʻuoehu, the ridge above

Hāmākua Marsh, 94% were for paths at Ulupō, and 85% wanted paths at Waiʻauia. The Hale

Waʻa voyaging center, which was given 94% public approval as a desired facility, was removed

after the 2017 Draft EIS process.

Despite these poll results, massive sections of trails and boardwalks have been removed from

the master plan. The elimination of these trails and boardwalks ignores poll results and the

overwhelming desire of the community for a trail system that offers passive recreational

activities at Kawainui-Hamakua marshes for the community. The project revisions indicate that

a small section of the community that promoted tourism fears surrounding this master plan

were unfortunately given credence and the much larger community desiring a trail system at

Kawainui and Hāmākua, were ignored. Reasons given for removal of these trails is stated as,

“revisions to proposed improvements have now been incorporated into concept plans to

further reduce public access within Kawainui by eliminating some improvements.”

18

Trailways were removed only because of objections by those who don’t approve of any access

to Kawainui even though DOFAW and Division of State Parks say they can manage these trails.

The Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle Alternative Master Plan actually eliminated all public access and

support facilities at Kawainui and suggested the public could be offered a guided tour of the

Kahanaiki government ponds once a year. These are extreme, illogical, unreasonable views

that ignore the primary purpose of the project which is to provide cultural, educational, and

passive outdoor recreational opportunities.

The project has been revised so that the trails to the Kalāheo section, along with an access

bridge across Kawainui Canal, and pieces of trail between Kapaʻa and Ulupō were removed

resulting in the loss of a continuous trail system encircling Kawainui. A very minimal trail system

is not justified, even though DOFAW claims it is reasonable. The trail system at Kawainui was

modeled on the ancient pathways of the ancestors of Native Hawaiians, going from kuahale to

kuahale, and these should be restored and honored. Native Hawaiians practicing culture and

stewarding Kawainui want to walk in the footsteps of their ancestors and should not be cut off

from areas of Kawainui culturally significant to them because of tourist issues in Kailua.

When Hui Kawainui-Kailua Ka Wai Ola and ʻAhahui Mālama I Ka Lōkahi presented a display at

the 2019 Kailua Town Party that indicated the removal of many of the trails and boardwalks

from the master plan, many in the community were very disappointed and wondered why they

had been removed.

Tourists and Loss of Educational, Cultural components of the master plan

When removal of major elements of a master plan that has been worked on for 30 years is

being considered the reasons must be very serious and well-founded. In reality, the project

does not provide commercial operations and activities for visitors, and commercial tour buses

are not allowed to park anywhere at Kawainui. The Kapaʻa Cultural Center, research labs, the

DOFAW offices, the Hale Waʻa, and the Waiʻauia Cultural Center and parking areas for these

19

facilities will be off-limits to tourists, and most of the public, including community members.

These facilities and the corresponding parking areas will be closed, locked and inaccessible

most of the time. The Environmental Impact Statement does not find any pollution problems

associated with planned structures, but their removal harms educational efforts and cultural

practices. Other areas such as the Environmental Education Center would be strictly managed

and anyone parking there, and entering the center and trails beyond would be subject to

regulations. The same would apply to areas at Ulupō and Nā Pōhaku O Hauwahine.

Tourist inundation in Kailua the past eight years, or so, is real and tourists are having a negative

impact on some of our natural resources in Kailua such as the Ka Iwa Ridge Trail, Lanikai Beach,

and the Maunawili Trail. But, educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities for residents

shouldn’t be curtailed because of tourists. School children shouldn’t be deprived of educational

resources and things like bathrooms because of tourists. Ideally, community members

shouldn’t lose trail systems and access to areas because of tourists. Tourists aren’t going away,

so management solutions need to be found and implemented in order to preserve these

resources and minimize impact on surrounding residential neighborhoods. Funding to the The

Hawaii Tourism Authority should be decreased or transferred so that funding can go to the

Department of Land and Natural Resources for tourist management measures. Hawaii Tourism

Authority should, as they are starting to do, also be saddled with protecting our natural

resources and managing them in the context of tourism.

Statistics indicate that the majority of visitors to Kailua are Japanese tourists. According to the

Hawaii Tourism Authority statistics for Kawainui-Hāmākua Master Plan Project EIS, it was found

that for Japan visitors, participation in recreational activities was lower than U.S. visitors. It was

10% for parks and botanical gardens versus 37% for U.S. visitor activity. Shopping was the

primary activity Japanese visitors participated in—98%. Beach related activities participation

was 37%. There is no beach at Kawainui, so it is implied Japanese visitation to Kawainui would

be very minimal, in the area of 10% for parks and botanical gardens.

20

Many of those counted as present or potential visitors to Kawainui in the master plan are not

“visitors.” but are being labeled as such and lumped into that category within the visitor counts.

We are community members who walk or bike the levee regularly, we are stewards, educators,

students, artists, walkers, bird enthusiasts, nature seekers, and cultural practitioners from the

community who frequent the levee and other areas of the marsh. We are not “visitors.”

Native Hawaiian organizations are taking the lead and have concrete plans to manage and

protect sensitive cultural sites and natural resources in the Kailua Ahupuaʻa

Native Hawaiian organizations are not oblivious to the tourist influx in Kailua and corresponding

problems. They are, in fact, the only ones currently actively taking concrete steps to manage,

protect, and control damage to our natural resources by human use. Visitors to areas can be

controlled by limiting parking, limiting the number of tourists per day allowed, charging

entrance/parking fees for tourists, and make visitation to an education center mandatory

before visitors enter an area. Tourists can be managed at state parks by staff, caretakers, and

volunteers and will have to be because they are not going away. Native Hawaiian organizations

are developing a comprehensive plan to manage our watershed, wahi pana, trails and sacred

sites in Kawainui and Maunawili Valley because this is their kuleana. So far, the Hui Maunawili-

Kawainui Coalition has successfully convinced the Governor to enter negotiations for the State

to acquire the wetlands of Maunawili Valley and the Native Hawaiian sacred sites of Maunawili

Valley in order to protect them. The Hui Maunawili-Kawainui Coalition was formed through a

collaberation of the leaders of the Kailua Historical Society, ʻAhahui Mālama I Ka Lōkahi, Kailua

Hawaiian Civic Club, Hikaʻalani, Hui Kawainui-Kailua Ka Wai Ola, Hoʻokuaʻāina,and long-time,

including lifetime, residents of Maunawili to formulate strategic plans to protect and manage

the Maunawili wetlands, restore and protect the sacred sites of Maunawili Valley, such as

Queenʻs Retreat and the Maunawili Trail, restore and protect the growing of kalo in Maunawili

Valley, and protect and manage Kawainui and the entire Kailua ahupuaʻa watershed and Native

Hawaiian wahi pana of Kailua. The master plan for Kawainui/Hāmākua is just part of a much

bigger environmental, cultural, sustainability plan for the Kailua ahupuaʻa of which the Kailua

21

community is totally unaware. There are parallel dialogues going on and one is focused on

eliminating tourists in Kailua, and the other is focused on a plan to manage, care for, restore

and preserve Native Hawaiian sacred lands, including kalo farms, heiau, streams, wetlands,

forests, and all sacred sites stretching from Wailuku to Maunawili Valley and taking care of the

Kailua ahupuaʻa mauka to mākai extending to the great blue ocean beyond that really connects

us all. This dialogue believes we lose the opportunity to educate generations about an ancient

culture that lived and thrived here and we lose our connection to the past that defines our

present and our future, unless the master plan is supported. The vast reservoir of history and

knowledge, cultural and scientific, stored within Kawainui needs to be celebrated, taught, and

preserved.

It is your choice to decide which dialogue is more valuable, meaningful, and needs to be

honored.

Conclusion

The master plan project for Kawainui/Hāmākau is an excellent plan intended to restore

wetlands and native bird habitats, support Ramsar objectives, the Stateʻs missions, provide

managed access and outdoor recreation, and support cultural practices. I appreciate the Stateʻs

efforts to support and follow through on these objectives and not defer to those in the

community who object to the recreational, cultural and educational features in the plan. These

objectives are too important to be cast aside. Features in the master plan that support

education and Native Hawaiian culture have already been wrongfully reduced, or removed

entirely, with each EIS review because of political pressure from some Kailua community

organizations. These should be reinstated. The statements and objections to the master plan

by these factions really need to be questioned because they are not based in fact.

The master plan confirms, not denigrates, Kawainui and will restore it to some of its ancient

preeminence. It has survived centuries of use, neglect and abuse, but still functions as a living

organism, waiting to be restored and protected. It deserves to be shared, not fenced off, or

22

relegated to secondary status. It deserves the respect and restorative efforts that the Kawainui-

Hāmākua Master Plan provides and sanctions. The master plan supports a Native Hawaiian

presence, along with Native Hawaiian cultural/educational centers at the marsh which are key

to its restoration and preservation. The continuation of educational and stewardship

programs, preservation of cultural sites there, and sustainability measures such as ancient

Hawaiian agricultural and fishpond aquaculture should be supported. The master plan

recognizes the rich tapestry of culture and environment that weaves the multi-dimensional

story of Kawainui and how culture, people and birds can co-exist there and thrive. Kawainui

isn’t just any wetland with endangered native birds; it is the site of the oldest Polynesian

settlement in the Hawaiian Islands and because of its abundant fishpond and loʻi kalo

cultivation eventually grew to be one of the largest Hawaiian settlements in the islands. One of

the oldest heiau in the Hawaiian Islands, Ulupō, is at Kawainui, a place still revered and

considered sacred by Hawaiians who practice their culture there. It is this history, the Native

Hawaiian culture, the moʻoelo of this place, and the ancient archaeology that exists at

Kawainui, along with the native birds, that makes it a wetland needing guardianship of Native

Hawaiians and one of international importance.

Aloha,

Beth Anderson

Kailua

Appendix A

The following environmental and cultural organizations and individuals support the master

plan and support facilities for native Hawaiians at Kawainui:

23

Conservation Council for Hawaiʻi

Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi, Executive Committee

350.org Hawaiʻi

Derek Esibill, Watershed Investigative Research Education program

Jeff Mikulina, Executive Director, Blue Planet Foundation

The Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture

Pacific American Foundation

Kailua Historical Society

Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club

ʻAhahui Mālama I ka Lōkahi

Hālau Mōhala ʻIlima

Ululani Young, Boardmember Ala Wai Watershed Association

Hikaʻalani

Hui Maunawili-Kawainui Coalition

Hui Kailua-Kawainui Ka Wai Ola

Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs

24

From: Dane AndersonTo: DLNR.BLNR.TestimonySubject: Support for the FEIS Kawainui-Hamakua Marsh Master PlanDate: Wednesday, October 23, 2019 6:05:10 PM

Aloha Board Members of the Department of Land and Natural Resources,

I am testifying in support for the FEIS Kawainui-Hamakua Marsh Master Plan.

The Kawainui/Hamakua Master Plan should be supported and implemented because of its invaluable educational,recreational, cultural, and environmental components. Restoration of the wetland ponds is needed to open up habitats forendangered birds, fish, and other estuary organisms. The marsh is in a deteriorated state and restoration is long overdue. TheRamsar Kawainui and Hamakua Wetlands of International Importance are significant and certain areas of the Kailua‘Ahupuaʻa watershed are in need of attention and should be restored to a healthier ecosystem.

I strongly support educational access to Kawainui and an increase in the quality and quantity of existing education programs. This can only be accomplished by providing educational facilities, research facilities, bird viewing platforms and trails andpavilions for hands-on learning experiences. There is a tremendous demand for educational programs at Kawainui andamenities like restrooms, trails, and educational facilities are necessary in order to carry out those programs. A HawaiianCultural Center at Kawainui is key to the restoration and perpetuation of native culture in Kailua. Management andstewardship of the sacred cultural and archaeological sites on the edges of Kawainui can be accomplished by having securedand safe parking areas, an environmental education center, plant nurseries, tool sheds, a Kawainui/Kalaheo Estuary Pavilionfor school groups as well as other elements of the Kapa’a Hawaiian Cultural Center.

It is my hope that DLNR will support the organizations that are achieving and expanding ecosystem restoration, conservation,food growing, and sustainabilty work at Kawainui. These organizations, ʻAhahui Malama I Ka Lokahi, Hikaʻalani, andKailua Hawaiian Civic Club, have been making incredibly valuable contributions to the natural and cultural resources atKawainui for decades, with little support from the State and with inadequate facilities. They are the protectors and guardiansof Kawainui, lands that are sacred to them, and their kuleana. A special emphasis should be placed on maintaining this NativeHawaiian involvement at Kawainui, and supporting structures and facilities in the master plan should be provided in order tosupport the continued presence and work by these native Hawaiian civic organizations.

Thank you for recognizing my support for the master plan, and please include the facilities that will enhance and aideducational, cultural, and environmental restoration and preservation.

Mahalo nui loa,

Dane Anderson

mailto:blnr.testimony@hawaii.gov

From: Pamela DeBoardTo: DLNR.BLNR.TestimonySubject: Kawainui MarshDate: Wednesday, October 23, 2019 10:59:29 PM

Kawainui Marsh should be preserved as a bird sanctuary. Do NOT develop Kawainui Marsh!

Pamela DeBoard

Sent from my iPhone

mailto:blnr.testimony@hawaii.gov

From: Ferne FegleyTo: DLNR.BLNR.TestimonySubject: Hamakua, Kaiwainui projectDate: Thursday, October 24, 2019 3:49:35 AM

Do NOT approver.

mailto:blnr.testimony@hawaii.gov

From: Darrylnn FerreiraTo: DLNR.BLNR.TestimonySubject: Kawainui-Hamakua Master PlanDate: Thursday, October 24, 2019 8:54:10 AM

It has been brought to my attention that the Master Plan has not delete all thewalking pathways.I am very considered regarding the walking paths that align Kukanono. Thesewalking paths will be very close to homes lining the perimeter of Kukanono (ManuAloha Street). This with create excessive parking in the neighborhood by those thatwant to cut through the neighborhood.Those that use the pathway will create noise to change our quiet peaceful area. Itwill also disrupt any historical sites in the area.Please reconsider these walking pathways. Our quiet neighborhood has had to dealwith many other advisories with two different business on the makai and maukasides our neighborhood.

-- Malama Pono,Darrylnn & Merl Ferreira101 Financial Dean of Instructors

Darrylnn Cell......(808) 864-0392Merl Cell...........(808) 864-1829101darrylnn@gmail.com

www.101Financial.com/PonoVideo Link: www.101financial.com/Peace

mailto:blnr.testimony@hawaii.govmailto:101darrylnn@gmail.comhttps://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.101Financial.com/Pono__;!p54XP4V2edI!nKE1NCmIVVCO42v8V8VsNMq-S61lNQXjY0VVZar1o1RzKRs3lj97QN8FQoG61Artzp4DGQU$https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.101financial.com/Peace__;!p54XP4V2edI!nKE1NCmIVVCO42v8V8VsNMq-S61lNQXjY0VVZar1o1RzKRs3lj97QN8FQoG61Artkhgd4rE$

From: Joan Marie FlorenceTo: DLNR.BLNR.TestimonySubject: Kawainui-Hamakua Master Plan Project DO NOT APPROVE !!Date: Thursday, October 24, 2019 6:28:23 AM

       Kawainui Marsh is one of the most beautiful places in Hawaii, if not the whole planet. It is the largest wetland in Hawaii, home to 4 species of endangered water birds. This marsh & the land surrounding it’s edges MUST BE PRESERVED AS IS !!        Kailua residents (I have owned a home & lived here since 1978),moved to this side of the island for peace, quiet, beauty & close caring community.       I strongly OPPOSE ANY ECO-TOURIST DEVELOPMENT ON  THE MARSH!. KAILUA IS CROWDED WITH VISITORS EVERYDAY——3,000 people a day is more than enough! We , who live in Kailua DO NOT WANT OR NEED 9,000 visitors a day!!!!Parking to shop for groceries or go to the doctors is becoming a daily challenge. IF KAILUANS WANTED TO LIVE IN WAIKIKITHAT’S WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE BOUGHT A HOME!!       The ecosystem of the Kawainui Marsh is fragile. It will ruin the quiet, beauty & wildlife of the marsh to pave for large parking lots, build structures & bring in multiple exhaust spewing tour buses.THIS PROJECT IS A 100% MISTAKE FOR KAILUA. ONCE RUINED, AN ECOSYSTEM CANNOT MAKE A COME BACK = IT’S GONE FOREVER.      As to education & cultural awareness ( I am a retired Punahou teacher)…..the Polynesian Cultural Center does an outstanding job!       JUST SAY NO TO ANY DEVELOPMENT ON KAWAINUI MARSH !!! I stand strong with my neighbors to oppose development of any kind. Leave nature as it is LESS IS MORE!! Hawaii is our home, we all pay taxes & chose to live quietly in Kailua NOT SACRIFICE OUR HOME FOR GREEDY DEVELOPERS TO CREATE A DISNEYLAND IN KAILUA!! I urge you to help Kailua remain a small, family community.JUST SAY NO !!! NOT WANTED OR NEEDED!!! Sincerely,  Joan Marie Florence-Van Dyke 204 Po’opo’o Place                                        Kailua, Hawaii 96734

mailto:blnr.testimony@hawaii.gov

From: Marian HeidelTo: DLNR.BLNR.TestimonySubject: FEIS for Kawainui MarshDate: Wednesday, October 23, 2019 10:59:18 PM

Dear Board Members:

I approve the protection of Kawainui Marsh from any development of housing, other commercial ventures, and wishto preserve it as a place of wetlands for the birds, but also as a place of recreation and renewal for our community. By recreation I mean a place to walk (boardwalks out into the marsh so that we can observe more of itscharacteristics), a path around the marsh would be fine with me, and opportunities to learn about the Hawaiianculture through visiting heiaus, and working in the loi at Ulupo, hiking and volunteering at Na Pohaku, and otherareas, to improve the water quality, and ridding it of overgrowth and unwanted plants. I am still a little nervousabout the plan to have an educational building, but basically approve of the opportunity for people to visit a buildingthat will teach about the marsh, caring for the environment, about the Ramsar designation, and the history of the areaand its special places and the Hawaiian culture. I hope there won’t be large parking lots. I would prohibit busloadsof people being brought in; perhaps we could allow school buses for student trips.

I haven’t read the plan recently, so I cannot comment on other specific proposals.

Aloha,

Marian Heidel1341 Manu Mele St.(Kukanono) Kailua,Oahu

mailto:blnr.testimony@hawaii.gov

Kawainui Marsh Restoration Plan

Priorities, Protocols, and Participation

Hawaiian Community Perspective A. Recovering the Past and Designing the Future

Overthelast150yearsKawainuiMarshhasbeendowngradedfromafreeflowingcenterofHawaiian

communityenrichmentandsustainabilityintoanovergrownstagnantwatersheddrainagefeatureservingsuchfunctionssuchaswastedump,agraveyardforabandonedautomobilesandhouseholdappliances,productionofmega-generationsofmosquitoes,andgrazingland.

Astheprocessofrestorationtakeshold,itisimportanttoreflectonthepastasguidanceforthefuture

tohelpthe‘soulofKailua’inhealingandrecoveringtoarespectfulcentralpositioninthelifeofKailua.Kawainuirepresentsasignatureopportunitytoestablishcorrectandintegrated,ratherthanexploitiveanddivisive,designofthefuture,focusingontheimportanceofthiswatershedtothepastandthe

generationstofollow.

2

ThecentralHawaiianculturalmanagementoftheenvironmentandofhumanbehavioriscenteredontheflowofwater–inthiscasefromtheua(rains)thrutheuplands(Ko’olau)tothelowlands

(Maunawili,Olomana,Pohakapu,Kuanono,Kapa’a,Kaelepulu,Hamakua,Kawailoa)collectinginthebottomlands(Kawainui)beforeheadingintotheocean(kai,papa,moana)–andtherelationshipofthatflowofwatertosuccessfulsustainabilityoflife.Thecomprehensiveunderstandingofthatflow

becomestheOrganizingPrinciple,theWaterofLife-perception,analysis,expression,respect,governance,andaction–thatmustguidetheKawainuieffort.

Intoday’sworld,thescientificcomponentofWaterofLife(Kawaiola)maybethoughtofasthe‘WaterBalance’…andfromthatvision,theemergingpracticesofenvironmentalscienceandtechnologyhavea

pointofentryandbecomeimportantpartnersinstewardshipofthismoku.

Water Balance

AddingthescienceofWaterBalancetotheCulturalbalanceassuredthroughKawaiolathinkinggivesas

abasisforcreatingenduring,participative,andprojectiveguidancethatevolvestomosteffectivegovernanceofKawainui–througheducation.‘KawainuianditsFuture’canbecomeacentralrallyingeducationalthemethatcementstogethertheregionalschools,atelementary,scholastic,academic,and

graduatelevels.AsustainingeducationaloverlayisnecessarygivenKawainui’sleadershiproleastheState’slargestwetlandanditsglobalsignificancethroughrecognitionasaRamsarsite.ThroughaneducationallinkupcenteredonKawainui,relatedrestorationprogramsatWaimanalo,WaikaluaLoko,

Hakipu’u,He’eia,Kahana,Makua–andmanymore–canallbenefitfrominformation,resource,andpracticesharing.

Perhapsmostimportant,theculturalproductofaKawainui-centriceducationalorientationwillbeacontinuousgenerationofstudents,growingandevolvingwithknowledgeandcapabilitiesintocitizens

3

andleaders.Itisthisbodyofnext-generationpeoplethatwecanexpecttobestcreatethefutureofKawainui.

B. Starting Out

PlanningeffortsareunderwaythatareinconsistentwithKawaiolathinking,leadingtoundesirablepotentialoutcomes,unsustainableanddangerouslandscapedesigns,inappropriateand

counterproductivestructures–theusualfractionedapproachthataccompaniesagenda-drivenratherthatKawaiola-driventhinking.WithouthavingputinplacethefullEducationalcomponentdescribedabove,noraffectedtheKawaiolamannerofthinking,itispossibleneverthelesstostatekey

foundationalPrinciplesthatcanbeusedtoguideinitialKawainuirecoveryefforts.

Overall,wemustminimizethefootprintofrecoveryefforts,generatenohardscapeorpermanentstructureorfeature.WemuststartsmallandletthewisdomofthekupunaguideusthruDiscoveryandInsightviaEducation.Wemustoutlineandrefineaslow-evolutionapproachtowatershedrecovery.It

took150yearstopunishKawainuiintothestateofdisrespectshehasfallen…itisperfectlyOKtotake15or20yearstorecoverher.Inthattimeframe,aKawainui-centerededucationalprogramcanproducetrained,insightful,Kawaiolathinkersinthecommunity,agencyandbusiness,andGovernmentwhocan

leadustothebestfutureforKawainui.

C. Points of Agreement

TheHawaiianCommunityagreesonaslow-start,softscape-only,highlyself-generatedandself-operated

restorationobeyingthefollowingfundamentalideas:

1. Protocol of Water Flow. FirstPrincipleinhonoringtheprotocolofKawainuiMarshistheunderstandingofhowthewatergenerated,coalesced,andflowedfromtheatmospheretothe

Ko'olaupokomountainrangesintothelowlandsandthenceintoKawainuimarsh.

2. Balance.RestoringtheflowofthoseSacredWatersisthefirststepwemusttakeinachievingthebalanceofKawainui,basedonunderstanding:

a. Therain(ua)anditsflowpaththroughtheKo‘olaus.b. Thepathandenrichmentoffreshmineralwater(wai)asitpassesthroughuplands,and

throughcultivatedlo‘iandcanals.c. FlotationintoKawainuiwherefreshandmarinemeet,blend,andflowtothesea.d. Howandwherefreshandsaltwatercreaturesoriginateandfunction.e. HowandwhytheHawaiianhabitationkauhale(villages)weredistributedaroundthe

periphery.

f. ThecycleofsustainabilitythatoperatedinKawainui–moonandseason,plantingandharvesting,landandwaterstewardship.

3. Start slowly.WhateverisdonetoKawainuimustbeconsistentwithHawaiianpractices;mustbesafe,enforceableandcontrollable;mustbenon-conducivetoelementsofcrime;must

besustainable;andmustbecapableofbeingfunded.Noneofus,singly,hastheimagination,

4

capability,orpoliticalbudgetsupportorcommunitysupportsufficienttodesignarecoveryprogramleadingtosuchanendstate.

Theworkmuststartslowly,withnopermanenthardscapeorbuildings,andwithinthereasonableviewplaneoftheHawaiiancommunity.

4. Educational leadership and stewardship.Beyondtheinitialstartup,anyfollow-onworkwillbeguidedbytheculturalprinciplesofahupua’astewardship,maukaandmakai,as

revealedbyresearchassociatedwithaKo’olaupoko-orientededucationalprogramoverlay;andbyapplicationofwaterbalancetechnology,modeling&simulation,consistentwithRamsarstatus.Thiseffortwillconsiderthewatershedasawhole;theeffectsofpastmilitaryuses,

plantation,pollution,chemicalfertilizer,andlandfilleffects;surfaceandwaterwayalteration;andwillapplytraditionalplanting,harvesting,andchemical-freepestmanagementpractices.

Environmental Perspective Thefollowingarequotedexcerptsfrom:KawainuiMarshWetlandRestorationAndHabitatEnhancementProjectDraftEnvironmentalAssessment(DEA).

"KawainuiMarshwasrecognizedasaRamsarConventionWetlandofInternationalImportancein2005foritshistorical,biological,andculturalsignificance.Themarshencompassesabout830acresofland

andisthelargestremainingwetlandintheStateofHawai‘i…ThemarshislocatedintheKailuadistrictoftheislandofO‘ahu,andgenerallyborderedbymajorroadwaysoneachsideincludingKalaniana‘oleHighwayandKailuaRoad,MōkapuSaddleRoad,Kapa‘aQuarryRoad,andKīhāpaiStreet…

KawainuiMarshhasbeenidentifiedbytheFWSasawaterbirdrecoveryareabecauseitprovideshabitatforfourendemicandendangeredHawaiianwaterbirds.ItalsoplaysauniqueroleintheKo‘olaupokoregionwatershedasanimportantsourceoffloodcontrolandsedimentfiltrationprotectingurbanized

areasofKailuaandtheKailuaBayecosystemthroughgroundwaterrechargeandimprovedwaterquality…

KawainuiMarshservesasanimportantfloodcontrolbasinprotectingthelow-lyingurbanizedareasofKailuaTownandCoconutGrovesubdivisionthatexperiencedfloodingin1988whenfloodwaters

breachedthelevee.Theleveewasconstructedin1966alongthenorthernmostedgeofthemarshtoenhanceitsfloodstoragecapacity.ItwaslatermodifiedbytheCOEandCityin1997raisingitsheightandconstructingaconcretefloodwalltoaddressthe100-yearfloodlevelestimatedforKawainui

Marsh…ThemarshgenerallydrainsinasouthtonorthdirectionfromKapa‘aQuarryRoadandKalaniana‘oleHighwaytowardtheshoreline.KahanaikiStreamisaperennialstream…Thisstreamischaracterizedasgenerallyconsistingofashallow(generallylessthan1-footdeep)flowofopenstream

wateraboutfourtosevenfeetwide.AshortsegmentofMaunawiliStreamentersthe…areaconnectingtoKahanaikiStream,andisthemainsourceofsurfacewaterflowingintothemarshwithKahanaikiStreamprovidingmostoftheremainingflows.Otherinflowtothemarshcomesfrom

5

peripheraldrainagesandsmaller,non-perennialstreams.WaterfromthemarshisdischargedintotheKawainuiChannel(alsoreferredtoasOneawaChannel)whichdrainsintoKailuaBay…

NeedforErosionControl

SurfacewaterrunoffintheprojectareaandmaukaareasenterthemarshprimarilyfromKahanaikiand

MaunawiliStreams.Runofffromthehighwayalsosheetflowsintodrainageculvertseventuallydischargingintothesestreams.DrainageculvertsalongKapa‘aQuarryRoadcollectrunofffromLeJardinAcademyandmaukaareasbeforedischargingintoKawainuiMarsh.

KawainuiMarshservesasanutrientandsedimentsinkprotectingthewatersofKailuaBay,byfiltering

andmitigatingtheeffectsofnutrientsandchemicalsdischargedfromuplandareas.Italsoservesasanimportantfloodbasinslowingdownsurfacerunoffandprotectinglow-lyingurbanizedareasofKailua.Sedimentandotherpollutantsenteringthemarshfromtheupperwatershedaredepositedoverthe

broadmarshbasinwhereitisallowedtosettleandreducedischargesintoKailuaBay.Therefore,thereisaneedtorestorethemarshsothatagriculturalandurbancontaminants(e.g.fertilizers,herbicides,pesticide,septicsystemdischarges,etc.)canbebetterfilteredwithinthemarsh.

StormwaterrunofffromKapa‘aQuarryRoadatculvertlocationshascausederosionofuplandareasof

themarshcontributingtoincreaseddischargesofsedimentandothermaterialsintothemarsh.Therefore,improvementstotheseculvertsanduplandareasareneededtomitigateerosionandreducedischargeofsedimentsandotherdebrisintothewetland."

Thisexemplifiesthestrongneedtoincludetheentireahupua‘aandtheuplandfastlandsofthemarsh

areainanyplanforitsfutureprotection.

Plan Execution Continuouscommunityinputorganizedaroundunityofthoughttiedtotheflowofwater,theWaterofLife,isessentialtoasuccessfuloutcomefortherestorationofKawainui.Researchanddiscoverydrivingtheemergenceofinsightthroughadurableandrichstudenteducationalprogramsharedwithin

KoolaupokoisessentialtothefutureleadershipandgovernanceofKawainui.Withtheseessentialelementsinplace,conductedinfulltransparency,wewillbeassuredanexemplaryoutcomeconsistentwithKawainui'shistoricalHawaiiansignificance,globalRamsarstatus,anditseligibilityfortheNational

HistoricSitesRegister.

Thecommunityinputandproperleadershipmustbeprovidedbythecommunity.TheKailuaNeighborhoodBoardandarejuvenatedHoolaulimawillformapartnershiptoassisttheStateinthatleadership,assuringthecontinuousinputnecessarytoensuresuccess.

Specific Plan Recommendations A. Programs and Operations

• Emphasisonpreservation,maintenance,waterquality,andsecurityofthewetlandincontextofthelargerwatershed(ahupua‘a),derivedfromKawaiolathinking.

• Maintenanceandsupportofthewaterbirdhabitat.• Floodcontrolandwaterpollutionabatement.• Wetlandrestorationandremovaloffloatingmat.• Permanentlyassignedmaintenanceandenforcementstaffing.• AbovetobeviewedfromtheKawaiola–WholeWatershedSustainabilityperspective.

B. Resource management & Restoration

• Controlofrunoff,siltation,contaminants,andnutrients.• Removalofalienspecies,andpromotionofnativespecies.• Prohibitionofcommercialtoursandothercommercialactivities.• Identification,Protection,and–asappropriateRestoration–ofarchaeologicalsites.

C. Interpretative facilities

• ToensuretheprotectionofnativeendangeredwaterbirdsattherecentlycreatedwetlandhabitatnokioskandparkingatKalanianaole-Kapaaintersection.

• Concealediw‘ikupunavaultatITTsite.• Maraehulamound(nominally10x20feet)andadjacentsmallhale(nominally15x20)atITTsite

foroccasionalmanao-sharingusewithvisitinghalau…stoneandgravelbaseconstruction,thatchedhau-frameupperstructure,softscalepermeableparkingforabout20passengercars.

• Smallhale(nominally10x15feet)atUlupowithsmallpermeableparkingfor5to10passengercars.

• Nocommercialsalesorcommercialvehicleloadingorparking.• SmallinterpretativesignageadjacenttoHamakuaMarsh.• CanoestorageandlaunchonOneawaend,convenienttoKalaheoSchool.• LimitedparkingatNaPohakuforpassengercarsonly.• ContinueHaleMuapracticeswhereHawaiianboysweremoldedintomenatcurrentCashranch

site.Nostructures.• CreateasenseofplaceatITTsitethroughnativeplantslandscapingandplacinganyhaleaway

fromtheroad.

D. Support features

• MaintenanceyardatCityandCountytransferstation.• Walkingpathretainedonlevee.• Nurserysupport:coordinate/sharewithBellows.

7

PlanMap

From: Lani-Kailua BranchTo: DLNR.BLNR.TestimonySubject: Testimony re FEIS for Kawainui-Hamakua Marsh Master Plan (Agenda item C.2)Date: Thursday, October 24, 2019 12:12:49 AMAttachments: LKOC Alternative Plan for Kawainui-Hamakua Master Plan Project.pdf

TO: Board of Land and Natural ResourcesRE: FEIS for Kawainui-Hamakua Marsh Master Plan (Agenda Item C.2)

Aloha,

The Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle (LKOC) has historically been involved in the protection of the natural andcultural resources of Kawainui. For the past 70 years, we have worked with State and local organizationsto gain recognition of its historic properties and been engaged in stewardship activities and educationoutreach to alert the public of environmental threats to these resources.

Modifications to the Master Plan that DLNR offers in response to the community’s and LKOC’s concerns,do not address our primary need which is the removal of permanent modern facilities upslope of thewetland that are not essential to DOFAW resource management responsibilities, are not required byRamsar, and are not essential to fulfilling the requirements of the Land Water Conservation Act.

The current Master Plan will provide more public access to an endangered water bird habitat and analready degraded ecosystem. However, the Master Plan’s insistence that Ramsar and the Land WaterConservation Fund require the level of recreational, educational, and cultural presence (in the form ofmodern facilities) being proposed is unfounded. Exceptions would and should be allowed for wildlifesanctuaries and wetlands as small as Kawainui-Hamakua.

LKOC has long promoted public access to the marsh for traditional cultural practices, as well aspreservation, restoration, and educational activities. However, the growing public use that would occurover time at the proposed facilities will threaten rather than sustain endangered wildlife, and diminishrather than improve water quality in Kawainui-Hamakua.

Of specific concern to LKOC is the inclusion in the FEIS of the permanent cultural and educationalfacilities proposed in upslope areas of the wetland. Those buildings, parking lots, lawns, restroomfacilities, leach fields, etc. will add to the alteration and hardening of the existing environment. Over timethey will have a cumulative negative impact on the marsh, impeding efforts by the State to improve waterquality and flood control.

LKOC strongly supports student education, cultural practices, wetland restoration and public access andrecreation, but is convinced that these objectives can better be accomplished without permanent modern-day structures. To that end, we developed our comprehensive “LKOC Alternative Plan”, which has beenincluded in the FEIS as an Alternative Plan Considered. Our plan is included as an attachment to thisemail.

We believe our alternative plan is consistent with the stated objectives of the Master Plan and presents amoderate and measured approach to achieving them.

However, the FEIS has rejected our plan’s recommendations at the following sites:

Our Wai’auia proposal for less impactful hardscape and structures, has been dismissed with thecomment:

“Wai‘auia needs wetland restoration and does not provide important habitat for endangeredwaterbirds. [LKOC’s] suggested alternative of a hale or pavilion located here instead would beinappropriate and does not support cultural practices and other activities. Such a structure providessuperficial support for temporary access and does not adequately support the project need.” (pg. 2-

mailto:blnr.testimony@hawaii.gov

Page 1 of 12

The Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle P.O. Box 261, Kailua, HI 96734 Email:lani-kailua@outdoorcircle.org www.koc.org

THE LANI-KAILUA OUTDOOR CIRCLE

Response to the Environmental Impact Public Notice (EISPN) for the “Kawainui-Hamakua Master Plan Project”

Including an Alternative to the Plan Entitled: The Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle Alternative Kawainui-Hamakua Marsh Master Plan

October 24, 2016

The Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle (LKOC) requests to be a consulting party in the preparation of an EIS for the Kawainui-Hamakua Master Plan Project.

This project, being developed by Hawai’i’s Department of Land and Natural Resources’ (DLNR), Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) in partnership with the Division of State Parks (DSP), will impact Kawainui and Hamakua wetlands and wetland watersheds.

We have prepared an alternative to the Master Plan entitled “The Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle Alternative Kawainui-Hamakua Marsh Master Plan", also referred to as “LKOC’s Alternative Plan”.

Background

Stream, spring and surface waters from mauka watersheds flow into Kawainui and Hamakua marshes, and are filtered before entering the recreational waters of Kailua Bay.

A wetland inventory published by the Society of Wetland Scientists in 2013, estimated that Oahu has lost 65% of its wetlands since human settlement began (ref: https://ase.tufts.edu/biology/labs/reed/documents/pub2014WetlandlossinHI.pdf)

This loss has left Kawainui-Hamakua as the largest remaining wetland in Hawaii. These wetlands are the ecological link between the Kailua, Kapa’a and Ka’elepulu-Hamakua watersheds and the recreational coastal waters of Kailua Bay. They are primary habitat for migratory birds and endemic and endangered waterbirds, they are a water filtration system, and they provide serene open-space vistas that contribute to our quality of life. In addition to storing surface water, and providing flood protection for adjacent communities, Kawainui provides a migration path, from the ocean to mountain streams, for indigenous and endemic amphidromous fish and crustaceans.

Over time, these marshes have been physically altered and degraded by human development. Kawainui has been used as a landfill, an automotive junkyard, and a repository for sewage. It has taken a community of concerned citizens working with enlightened government elected officials to bring it back to its present state, and it will take time and commitment to restore it to a fully functioning, clean and productive ecosystem. This is now our mandate, and the Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle (LKOC) takes seriously its responsibility to partner with like-minded individuals to work toward this goal.

Any Master Plan for the future of Kawainui and Hamakua must have at its center the protection of their ecological systems, including their water-related ecological resources.

The waters of Kawainui Marsh, are highly vulnerable to contamination and by law, are to remain in their natural state as nearly as possible with an absolute minimum of pollution from any human-caused source. (Class 1.a.waters under HRS Title II, Chapter 54). By law, the wilderness character of these areas shall be protected.

The Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle Alternative Kawainui-Hamakua Marsh Master Plan

http://www.koc.org/

Page 2 of 12

The Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle P.O. Box 261, Kailua, HI 96734 Email:lani-kailua@outdoorcircle.org www.koc.org

Overview

The Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle offers an Alternative to the Master Plan entitled “The Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle Alternative Kawainui-Hamakua Marsh Master Plan", also referred to as “LKOC’s Alternative Plan”.

Fundamental to LKOC’s Alternative Plan is the prioritization of resource management for the improvement of Kawainui and Hamakua’s functional ecosystems and the preservation of the cultural and archaeological sites and uses. It is based on a review of the record that shows a progressive loss of Kawainui marsh fecundity and health over the last 70 years, a loss due primarily to water diversions and development that included an industrial quarry, landfill, city dump, green waste facility, garbage incinerator, auto-wrecking yard, industrial park, and a road cutting off the wetland from its Kailua and Kapa’a watersheds. The natural environment has been degraded and is in need of restoration.

It is LKOC’s position that the natural, historic and cultural resources of Kawainui and Hamakua wetlands and watersheds entrusted to the public must be protected for the benefit of present and future generations.

The Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle Kawainui-Hamakua Marsh Master Plan supports the Kawainui-Hamakua Master Plan Project’s objectives “to sustain and enhance the natural and cultural resources associated with this area and increase public access and outdoor recreational opportunities”.

LKOC’s Alternative Plan prioritizes objectives and implementation on a smaller scale to avoid negative environmental impacts to the Kawainui and Hamakua wetlands, watersheds, endangered waterbird habitat, and archaeological sites.

LKOC’s Alternative Plan contends that modern buildings, other than those necessary for maintenance operations, and the number of trails, pavilions, driveways and other structural additions are not needed in order to comply with the objectives identified in the “Kawainui-Hamakua Master Plan Project”,

LKOC’s Alternative Plan meets the mandate of Section 6(f) of the Land Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Program to provide recreational opportunities on lands acquired with federal Land Water Conservation Funds (LWCF).

http://www.koc.org/

Page 3 of 12

The Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle P.O. Box 261, Kailua, HI 96734 Email:lani-kailua@outdoorcircle.org www.koc.org

The Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle Alternative Kawainui-Hamakua Marsh Master Plan Details

Kawainui-Hamakua

LKOC’s Alternative Plan supports the removal of invasive vegetation in the wetlands, naturalization of streams, opening up surface water flows and establishing seasonal mud flats in the 60-acre Kahanaiki Wetland Zone, the Open Water/Pothole Zone and the Wai’auia Wetland Zone.

It supports the creation of additional wetland areas and the improvement of waterbird habitat in the Hamakua wetland.

LKOC’s Alternative Plan agrees that “Healthy upland zones provide a protective buffer between developed areas and the wetland” (p. 2-16), and it supports: DOFAW’s hybrid ecosystem model for forest restoration; the maintenance of a visual vegetative screen between the roadways and the wetland in the project areas; repair to existing culverts to mitigate storm water runoff discharging into Kawainui and Hamakua; and the creation of detention areas to slow and detain runoff before it enters the wetlands.

LKOC’s Alternative Plan does not support commercial activities at these sites or commercial tour buses or vans.

Kahanaiki

Kawainui and Hamakua marshes are home to four of Hawai’i’s endangered and endemic waterbirds: the Hawaiian coot (‘alae ke’oke’o), Hawaiian duck (koloa), Hawaiian Stilt (ae’o), and Hawaiian Gallinule (Moorehen) (‘alae’ula). These waterbirds are classified as “conservation reliant” meaning they benefit from land protection and the active management of wetlands. Because they face extinction, special management protocols are needed to minimize human impacts on their habitat. The Kahanaiki segment of Kawainui is a designated wildlife sanctuary, and Kahanaiki Stream provides a supportive ecosystem for these endangered birds as well as a resting and foraging place for migratory fowl.

Because this area is designated a wildlife sanctuary requiring special protection, LKOC’s Alternative Plan provides limited public access and recreational opportunities through non-commercial DOFAW managed stewardship opportunities, school related educational programs, and hands-on-learning field trips that are designed to be low impact and are not scheduled during waterbird breeding seasons. Once a year, coinciding with Ramsar World Wetland Day, staff led non-commercial tours with no tour buses or vans, will be open to the general public.

This Alternative Plan removes proposals for new parking lots, the maintenance bridge/causeway over or through the wetland and Kahanaiki Stream, and it retains the three existing locked maintenance entrance gates along Kapaa Quarry Road.

LKOC’s Alternative Plan does not support commercial activities at this site or commercial tour buses or vans.

Na Pohaku (Pohakea)

The Na Pohaku planning area with structural features illustrated in Figure 2.5 is locally referred to as the Cash Ranch. It is physically separated by a gully from the Na Pohaku o Hauwahini site.

LKOC’s Alternative Plan for Na Pohaku (Cash Ranch) supports DOFAW’s continued upland forestation work and drainage improvements along Kapa’a Quarry Road. It also supports the building of small, low impact hale (traditional Hawaiian pole and thatched structures) to be used by cultural practitioner groups managed under a State MOA.

http://www.koc.org/

Page 4 of 12

The Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle P.O. Box 261, Kailua, HI 96734 Email:lani-kailua@outdoorcircle.org www.koc.org

LKOC’s Alternative Plan supports low impact, reduced human foot print, by: replacing the proposed brick and mortar structures with open air pavilions; decreasing the 35 car parking lot to 15 cars, including a school bus only drop off area; creating a low impact wetland viewing area; and offering staff-led only-on-trail access to the Kahaniki Wildlife Sanctuary.

In LKOC’s Alternative Plan, the Na Pohaku (Cash Ranch) section would be a cultural practitioner site with managed public access and recreational activities such as taking part in cultural learning activities, invasive species plant removal, planting of native species, bird watching, non-commercial wildlife photography, and staff/volunteer led non-commercial cultural, historical and ecological tours with no commercial tour buses or vans.

Na Pohaku o Hauwahine

LKOC’s Alternative Plan supports public access, recreational and open-air educational and cultural practitioner opportunities at Na Pohaku o Hauwahine. This site offers low impact public access recreation for hikers, open vistas, and areas of tranquility and natural beauty. An existing trail system leads to the Na Pohaku o Hauwahine outcrop and an interpretative platform that overlooks the broad expanse of Kawainui Marsh. Small bird blind